The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-12-07
sIong John'' and the Mail Bags.

Years ago, when "Long John" Went
worth was Chicago's representative in
Congress, the Government used to
send out it's reports wrapped up in two
bushel corn sacks or mail bags. SO
whenever man get public document
through the courtesy of the Congress-
man Of his district, he also got first
class bag with it. Just why the Gov
ernment used bags, unless to crafty
the whim of some farmer Congress-
man, instead of wrapping paper can
only be conjectured. 1t did it, and
that is enough for this story. Long
:. ohm" as Congressman naturally re-
ceived everything in the way Of a pub.
doc" that was sent out, and with them
many meal bags. Hundreds OF his
constituents, too, received the books
and bags because their names had been
placed on the lists at Washington at
the long Representatives bidding, and
most of them turned their bags over to
John with the understanding that they
would be returned by him to the Gov
ernment. He, however, with that
thrift that has ever been his distin-
gushing characteristic, and that in a
measure accounts for his payment Of
800 taxes per year on 81, 900, 900 worth
of property, sent the bags ont to his
farm in Will County, where they were
used to carry corn to town. The bags
were of the best quality, and they
proved valuable addition to the
equipment of the farm.
One day the authorities of the Post
Office Department took notion that
they would like to get back some of the
pub. doc" bags, and secret order was
sent out to inspectors, instructing them
to seize all the bags they could find.
The Inspector at this point was Paul
H. Denis, the present claim agent OF
the Illinois Central Railroad. Mir.
Denis first ascertained that Long
John" had been shipping bags out to
his farm by wholesale, and then he
planned raid on the farm, which he
speedily carried into effect. He went
out there one afternoon, when he sup
posed Long John" was snoring peace
fully in his room, and entered little
outlouse in which he found stored
nearly five hundred Government mail
bags. To seize the lot and load it into
his wagon was the work of less than
half an hour, for Mr.. Denis was a
Young and vigorous man at that time,
but to get the bags off the farm with,
out trouble was another thing. The
Inspector had scarcely started away
from the clubhouse when the towering
form OF the Congressman appeared in
the roadway just ahead. aLong John
came up at canter, growing execra'
tions and deep-toned curses at every
Jump, but before he could reach the
outhouse the inspector and the bags
were gone. Denis saw that he mustre
sszt to strategy if he would avoid trou,
DC, and he turned his horse of the
road and started across a wheat field
at furious gallop. 3Long john"
wheeled round and started in pursuit
of the daring officer, calling at the tor
of his voice for him to stop, but the Of
ticer paid no heed to him and Eept or
until he got clear of the farm. The
horse proved to be too feet for the
Congressman, and he gave up the race
in gust when he reached the oper
gate.
The Government got back its bags
and Inspector renis got abused By
Il ong John. n."-Ch5 ago Herald.